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Diplomacy

Play trailer Poster for Diplomacy 2014 1h 24m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 50 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In 1945, Raoul Nordling, the Swedish consul-general in Paris, meets with Dietrich von Cholitz, the German military governor of occupied Paris, to convince him not to destroy historical landmarks across the city.
Diplomacy

What to Know

Critics Consensus

For filmgoers who value character development and smart dialogue over plot, Diplomacy yields rich, powerfully acted rewards.

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Critics Reviews

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Tirdad Derakhshani Philadelphia Inquirer Arestrup and Dussollier are mesmerizing as they attack and parry, argue and counterargue. They reminisce about their lives before the war and wax poetic about their families - then engage in battle again. Rated: 3.5/4 Dec 12, 2014 Full Review Matthew Lickona San Diego Reader A little supporting personality could have made the proceedings feel less like a smartly staged character study and more like a wartime drama. Rated: 2/5 Dec 4, 2014 Full Review Leba Hertz San Francisco Chronicle Although we know what happens, Diplomacy keeps up the suspense and pulls off surprises as Choltitz's decision reaches its inevitable ending. Rated: 4/4 Nov 26, 2014 Full Review Dan Scully Cinema76 If you dig "talking movies" and want to try something that's not in the American "Sorkin/Mamet" smooth-talk variety, Diplomacy is worth checking out. Apr 14, 2020 Full Review Nicholas Bell IONCINEMA.com Though it tends to be a rather dusty historical drama, Diplomacy isn't without significant merits, a drama depicting the type of barely contained desperation behind what could have been a significant catastrophe. Rated: 3/5 Sep 6, 2019 Full Review Steve Erickson Gay City News What might seem like excess staginess in a lesser director's hands becomes excitingly stripped-down here, especially with canny use of a moving camera on a small set, where lighting keeps flickering due to power outages. Feb 16, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member A talky, interesting movie about the near-destruction of Paris and the men who stopped it from happening. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member An excellent dialogue piece. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member During World War II, when the German occupation was at the brink of defeat in Paris, General Dietrich von Choltitz, who was acting as Paris's governor, was under orders to destroy the city's famous landmarks, and flood the city's inhabitants with the waters of the River Seine before Paris could fall into the Allies' hands. Aware of these plans, Swedish diplomat Raoul Nordling secretly negotiated with Choltitz to prevent that catastrophe from happening. This film is the story of those secret negotiations. Most of the film is a recreation of the nerve-racking dialogue between the two main players, who give a compelling portrayal of their roles as the persuader and the persuaded. At just over 1.5 hours, this film is a quick and engrossing watch. Highly recommended, especially if you like history and stories from World War II. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Wow. It's a real thriller. all within the confines of one palatial office during the last days of WW II. Brilliant acting by the two leads. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Another one with a huge review and high ratings with much ado about nothing. The majority of the movie is filmed in an office with a conversation between 2. The latter part of the movie finally moves out of the office but sincerely - nothing to write home about. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member would have been outstanding but I'm not a subtitle movie watching guy Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Diplomacy

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Cast & Crew

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Volker Schlöndorff

Director

André Dussollier

Raoul Nordling

Niels Arestrup

Général von Choltitz

Burghart Klaußner

Hauptmann Werner Ebernach

Robert Stadlober

Lieutenant Bressensdorf

Charlie Nelson

Le concierge

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Diplomacy

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1945, Raoul Nordling, the Swedish consul-general in Paris, meets with Dietrich von Cholitz, the German military governor of occupied Paris, to convince him not to destroy historical landmarks across the city.
Director
Volker Schlöndorff
Producer
Marc de Bayser, Frank Le Wita, Sidonie Dumas, Francis Boespflug
Screenwriter
Cyril Gely, Volker Schlöndorff, Cyril Gely
Production Co
Film Oblige, arte France Cinéma, Gaumont, WDR, Südwestdeutscher Rundfunk (SWR), Blueprint Film
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (DVD)
Mar 10, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$230.9K
Runtime
1h 24m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)